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non-explosive fireballs, and their zombies fall over if you breathe on them hard. But we're still going to lose!"
The colonel behind him spoke softly. "They have the flying carpets, sir. Wars aren't won by fireballs. They're won by
logistics."
(((START BOX)))
@B-BOXHEAD:The Magic-Free Elections Alliance
@TEXT-BOX:M-FEA is an organization dedicated to making sure that American elections are conducted free of
magical bias. The most important part of their mission is ensuring that voters are not under the control of mind control
magics when they go to vote. They are largely responsible for the newest voting booths being portable no-mana zones.
They also work to pass laws regarding what magic items a politician may use during campaigns; by in large, they
grudgingly permit items that enhance appearance (ethically no different than makeup), but are against charisma-boosting
talismans and the like. M-FEA members often follow candidates around, scanning them for magical effects, and taking
careful notes.
@TEXT-BOX:In recent months it has been rumored that M-FEA has a political bias, and its efforts are dedicated to
promoting that bias. Experts point out that the no-mana-zone voting booths are mostly in districts with a common
political orientation. Thus, the areas that would vote against the Alliance's alleged bias can still be manipulated into
voting differently. The M-FEA public relations team vigorously denies these accusations.
(((END BOX)))
Political Items
There is no area less likely to be free of the influence of magical items than government. It is unnecessary to deceive an
entire population when you can manipulate the leaders. It's been suggested that democracy evolved as a defense against
this sort of influence. When political power is hereditary, a future king can be molded while still a child. With a
democracy, someone often doesn't set foot on the path to power until adulthood, possessed of both an adult will and,
probably, purchased magical protection.
Bands of Matrimony
This pair of items were created to bind together arranged marriages. Unlike many items, they are held by those
responsible for officiating weddings and worn by the couple for the 24 hours following the ceremony. The have the
9. Political and War Magic 9. Political and War Magic
effect of causing both parties to permanently forget that they ever had any sex-related or relationship-related inhibitions,
reservations, or the like with regard to each other. While this doesn't guarantee a successful marriage, it does put the odds
heavily in its favor. Please note that there is no limit to the number of times a party can be subjected to the bands and that
the gender of the parties involved is not a consideration.
A permanent seeker spell ensures that anyone possessing, but not necessarily wearing, a band can find its partner. A Hex
spell ensures that, if both bands are being worn by two different people, neither can remove them until 24 hours have
elapsed.
Note that none of the parties involved may be aware of the enchantment if their use is bound up into ritual tradition.
Many societies would regard the use of these bands on unwilling or uninformed subjects as unethical or even illegal.
Suggested Setting: Any setting which has a tradition of formal arranged marriages.
Component Spells: Bane, Hex, Limit, Permanent Forgetfulness, and Seeker, all at level 20.
Asking Price: $165,000 for the pair.
Binding Arbitration
This item comes in the form of a small, flat wooden box (a little larger than a GURPS book). Its surface is inscribed with
stylized balancing scales, owls, and other symbols of justice and wisdom.
If two parties are having a dispute, they may write out the details of their disagreement on separate pieces of paper and
seal them in the box. Once invoked, the box will not open for eight hours. After that time, if both parties are present and
touching its surface, it can be opened. The original papers will be gone, replaced by two identical copies of the resolution
of the dispute. The resolution will be enforced with a Lesser Geas on each of the parties. The ruling will always be as fair
as possible and will be absolutely within local laws. If resolving the dispute requires a law be broken (even relatively
simple legal systems can allow for contradictions), the resolution will tend to favor more recent laws, and prevailing
social custom.
The real mystery with these items is how they make their rulings. No enchanters or organizations have stepped forward
to claim credit for the boxes; spells like Ancient History uniformly grant images of endless legal texts. They first came to
the attention of sages about a hundred years ago, appearing in scattered villages across the lands. These villages were in
settled areas, but were far enough from the local rulers that disputes could go unresolved for years. The most common
theory for the creation of these boxes is that a God of Law, tired of the injustice in these areas, created them
anonymously.
Suggested Setting: Any fantasy setting with a moderately involved legal code.
Component Spells: Lesser Geas, hypothetical "Resolve Disputes" spell. Possibly divine in origin.
Asking Price: $75,000.
Political Items 9. Political and War Magic
The Chess Set of Skye
This ivory inlaid chess set was discovered by peat cutters on the Isle of Skye a hundred years ago. If the owner requests
the set show the status of a real plot or conspiracy, the pieces will array themselves on the board to represent the current
status of that plot. (If the plot does not exist, the pieces will be placed randomly.) Successful Chess and Politics rolls are
required to interpret the data. The set will provide information about a specific plot or specific plotter, but not both. For
example "Show me the status of the best current plot to kill the king" and "Show me the status of Lord Leod's current
plot" are both valid requests, "Show me the status of Lord Leod's plot to kill the King" would not be. In the above
example, even if Lord Leod was leading the best plot to kill the king, the two chess setups would not necessarily match.
In the first setup a courtier who wants to kill the king but has never met Lord Leod might be represented as a pawn. In
the second setup however this courtier/pawn might not be represented.
The symbolism of the pieces can be inconsistent but always makes some form of sense. For example one bishop could be
assigned to a high priest only vaguely involved in the conspiracy, while another might be assigned to a lowborn plotter
due to his usefulness in the conspiracy.
Suggested Setting: Yrth (particularly Megalos), GURPS Middle Ages.
Component Spells: Unknown.
Asking Price: $250,000.
The Pains of Childbirth
These granite orbs are used by the tribes of the western jungles to test their potential warriors. As the spears of these
tribes are tipped with a poison causing extreme pain, the test requires that the initiate survive the pains of childbirth.
(Women who have given birth do not need to face the orbs.)
The orbs can be safely handled by anyone who performs the correct (secret) obeisance, but all others must make a Will
roll when they pick up an orb. The pain is stunning. On a success, they acquire Toughness 1; on a critical success,
Toughness DR 2. On a failure, the candidate takes 2d of damage. On a critical failure, the victim takes 6d of damage. If
the subject fails and survives, he may not try again for a year.
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